Chapter 4 of The optimist is here in full — 408 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of The optimist is here in full — 408 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“In a sense, of course it is. You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?” He spoke without emphasis of any kind. “It _is_ a pity, of course,” said Val literally. “But how can we help it?
Chapter 4 of The optimist is here in full — 408 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading “You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?””
to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading “You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?””
special importance or significance
From this reading “He spoke without emphasis of any kind.”
in a free manner
From this reading “You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?””
in a literal sense
From this reading ““It _is_ a pity, of course,” said Val literally.”
a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
From this reading “You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?””
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading “You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?””
in a tacit manner; by unexpressed agreement
From this reading “You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?””
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
as might be expected
In this reading ““In a sense, of course it is.”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “In a sense, of course it is.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He spoke without emphasis of any kind.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But how can we help it?
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “But how can we help it?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading “In a sense, of course it is.
to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
special importance or significance
From this reading He spoke without emphasis of any kind.
in a free manner
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He spoke without emphasis of any kind.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading “But how can we help it?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But how can we help it?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “In a sense, of course it is.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “In a sense, of course it is.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “In a sense, of course it is.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading He spoke without emphasis of any kind.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
in a literal sense
From this reading “It _is_ a pity, of course,” said Val literally.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “In a sense, of course it is.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
by chance
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “It _is_ a pity, of course,” said Val literally.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading “In a sense, of course it is.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading He spoke without emphasis of any kind.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
in a tacit manner; by unexpressed agreement
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It _is_ a pity, of course,” said Val literally.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He spoke without emphasis of any kind.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You don’t think that perhaps it’s a pity to know there’s one subject we must tacitly avoid--that we can’t discuss freely?”
Chapter 4 of The optimist by E. M. Delafield holds 408 sentences, grouped into 82 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 4 holds 408 sentences of The optimist, unabridged, divided into 82 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of The optimist by E. M. Delafield exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 408 sentences, grouped into 82 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 82 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 82 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading The optimist by E. M. Delafield on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The optimist section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 0 chapters of The optimist to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The optimist, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
